Toyota Thailand has introduced the all-new Yaris Ativ B-Segment sedan, which will be sold as an entry level four-door saloon, going up against the likes of Honda Brio Amaze in the Thai-market. The Yaris Ativ will be sold alongside updated Toyota Vios sedan, which is retained as a more premium offering within the range.

The Yaris Ativ is essentially the current-generation Vios with visual cues taken from the Yaris hatchback (new front and rear bumper, new tail light design) and therefore isn’t based on the company’s new ‘TNGA’ platform, which underpins new products such as the Toyota CH-R.

Conceived to capitalize on Thailand’s Eco-car tax privileges, the Yaris Ativ is powered by Toyota's 1.2-litre 3NR-FE four-cylinder engine that produces 86 PS at 6,000 rpm and 108 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The engine is paired to a CVT automatic, which it shares with the Yaris hatchback. The Ativ's CVT unit is less complex than the one fitted in the Vios, which includes pseudo ‘manual’ mode with seven ratios. The Vios that we are familiar with, in comparison, is powered by the 1.5-litre 2NR-FE engine, which is rated at 108 PS and 140 Nm.

Five variants are on offer, starting from THB 469,000 (RM60,524) for the ‘J Eco’ variant, through to THB 619,000 (RM79,882) for the ‘S’ variant. As one progresses upwards in the range – the Ativ is offered with better infotainment system, auto air-con, LED DRLs and keyless entry. The ‘S’ variant adds a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment, 6-speaker audio setup, auto lights and some aesthetic highlights.

Toyota Thailand hasn’t skimped on safety kit, as evidenced earlier, offering 7-airbags, Traction Control, VSC, and ABS with EBD across the range, which gives it tremendous value against the Vios, which is priced between THB 609,000 (RM78,591) and THB 789,000 (RM101,820), and offers a maximum of two airbags across the range.

On the inside, the Yaris Ativ also sports some changes on the interior, such as the seat fabrics which are offered in beige or black, and a different dashboard design. The Yaris Ativ's centre console integrates the infotainment screen, air-cond panel and climate control interface in the centre, versus the Vios’s design which separates the air-con controls.

Separately, The Bangkok Post reports, that the Thai-market Vios may even be discontinued in the future, although it believes the Vios will still target buyers who want the more powerful engine. The report also adds that given the Yaris Ativ’s affordable pricing – it’s largely expected to become the best-selling sedan in Thailand.

Arvind describes a car in the same way he would describe a woman; this is not very healthy. Unlike the eternal sunshine of a spotless mind, soulful naturally-aspirated soundtracks and trigger quick (self-applied) gearshifts are all that fill the darkest recesses of his mind. Arvind is still trying to understand women...